Minister for Justice voices concern over rising anti-refugee sentiment in Ireland

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee has voiced concerns about rising anti-immigration sentiment but said this will not deter Ireland from meeting its international obligations.

The Minister’s words came as it emerged the National Indoor Arena at the Sport Ireland campus at Abbotstown in west Dublin will be used to provide emergency accommodation for 100 asylum-seekers from Thursday.

Speaking in Newcastle West, Co Limerick, as the country tries to accommodate thousands of Ukrainian war refugees, as well as international protection applicants, despite the worst housing crisis in living memory, Ms McEntee said that despite apparent growing unrest over a surge in refugees to Ireland, including some who are sleeping on the streets due to a lack of suitable accommodation, the Government was not planning on closing Irish borders.

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“We made it clear from the outset that where people are fleeing war and persecution that we are here to help them, and I don’t think that policy should change,” said Ms McEntee. “There is a sentiment there - it is not one that I support and I think the vast majority of Irish people should have that view as well”.

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The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth said the Sport Ireland facility at Abbotstown has a capacity for approximately 200 people. A spokesman for the department said it had engaged a facilities management company as well as security, and that the facility has wifi.

“Meals, bed linen and toiletries will all be provided. Applicants may be accommodated there for up to six weeks before being moved to more suitable accommodation, as it becomes available within the current shortages,” the spokesman said.

The war in Ukraine could not be foreseen, said Ms McEntee, and the present situation in Ireland is “extremely challenging”.

“We are dealing with a situation where we have welcomed over 50,000 people seeking accommodation this year so far - this time last year the figure was about 7,500, so you can imagine the pressure that that is putting on our system,” she said.

On August 16th last, gardai responded to violent incidents outside a temporary asylum seeker accommodation centre in Finglas, and officials decided to move the residents for their own safety after they had initially been taken there from CityWest.